Steelhead Season Open on Lower Clearwater

Anglers fishing two miles of the lower Clearwater River for steelhead can now keep what they catch. The harvest season is now open from the mouth to Memorial Bridge on U.S. Highway 12 at Lewiston. Anglers targeting steelhead must have a valid Idaho fishing license and a steelhead tag. Barbless hooks are required. Only steelhead with evidence of a clipped adipose fin may be kept. Steelhead limits are three per day, nine in possession, and 20 per season. The remainder of the Clearwater River is open for catch and release of steelhead, as are rivers throughout the state except the Middle and South Forks of the Salmon River. The harvest season on the Clearwater from Memorial Bridge upstream to Clear Creek, as well as the South Fork Clearwater and the North Fork Clearwater, opens October 15. The fall season for steelhead on the Salmon River, Little Salmon River, and Snake River opens September 1. The Columbia River Technical Advisory Committee is forecasting a return of steelhead just slightly lower than the 10-year average. The average number of steelhead passing Bonneville Dam from June 1 to May 31 is 314,767. The committee is forecasting this season's run past Bonneville Dam at 293,308. This translates to a forecast return of 117,232 at Lower Granite Dam, compared to a ten year average of 126,090. Lower Granite Dam is the final hurdle for steelhead and salmon returning to Idaho. It is also the final location for counting steelhead as they migrate toward hatcheries or spawning grounds in Idaho. The forecast numbers provided by the Technical Advisory Committee are preliminary. The forecast will be updated as daily counts past Bonneville Dam increase.